Mckinley Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Mckinley is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Mckinley?
Mckinley is spelled M-C-K-I-N-L-E-Y. The name has 8 letters.
Mckinley at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Mckinley means “son of Finlay” or “son of the fair hero” and derives from the Gaelic elements “Mac” meaning “son” and “Fhionnlaigh” meaning…
- Origin
- McKinley is commonly associated with Scottish and Irish origins, deriving from a Gaelic patronymic naming tradition.
- Pronunciation
- mick-KIN-lee · 3 syllables
Mckinley Popularity in 2025
Rank#712
Recorded Births393
Rank#3,658
Recorded Births30
- Girls usage rose 28 places to #712 and recorded 12 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 663 places to #3,658 and recorded 6 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Mckinley Mean?
Mckinley means “son of Finlay” or “son of the fair hero” and derives from the Gaelic elements “Mac” meaning “son” and “Fhionnlaigh” meaning “fair hero.”.
Origin: McKinley is commonly associated with Scottish and Irish origins, deriving from a Gaelic patronymic naming tradition.
How Do You Pronounce Mckinley?
Pronunciationmick-KIN-lee
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Mckinley?
- History
- The name McKinley has been used historically as a family name in Scottish and Irish genealogies.
Mckinley Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 393 | #712 |
| 2025 | Boys | 30 | #3,658 |
| 2024 | Girls | 381 | #740 |
| 2024 | Boys | 24 | #4,321 |
| 2023 | Girls | 461 | #635 |
| 2023 | Boys | 45 | #2,805 |
| 2022 | Girls | 453 | #651 |
| 2022 | Boys | 49 | #2,675 |
| 2021 | Girls | 563 | #543 |
| 2021 | Boys | 62 | #2,253 |
| 2020 | Girls | 536 | #554 |
| 2020 | Boys | 63 | #2,190 |
| 2019 | Girls | 615 | #512 |
| 2019 | Boys | 67 | #2,129 |
| 2018 | Girls | 718 | #447 |
| 2018 | Boys | 52 | #2,472 |
| 2017 | Girls | 730 | #437 |
| 2017 | Boys | 68 | #2,049 |
| 2016 | Girls | 759 | #428 |
| 2016 | Boys | 68 | #2,066 |
| 2015 | Girls | 860 | #379 |
| 2015 | Boys | 73 | #1,983 |
| 2014 | Girls | 862 | #379 |
| 2014 | Boys | 72 | #1,979 |
When Was Mckinley Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2014 · Girls
862 recorded births
National rank #379
2015 · Girls
860 recorded births
National rank #379
2013 · Girls
792 recorded births
National rank #391
2016 · Girls
759 recorded births
National rank #428
Where Mckinley Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ID | #221 | 10 |
| OR | #320 | 11 |
| IA | #354 | 9 |
| AR | #376 | 8 |
| MN | #377 | 14 |
| MS | #384 | 7 |
| NE | #396 | 5 |
| NC | #405 | 27 |